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Monday, August 1, 2011

Blog Tour and Giveaway! - Dracula in Love

Author: Karen Essex
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (paperback, July 2011)

From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers. Mina’s version of this Gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium. Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined.

I have long been a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula. So, when I was given the opportunity to read this book, I was excited to read Ms. Essex's take on the classic horror story. Dracula in Love is a sensual and erotic look into the relationship between Mina Harker and The Count. The premise is that Mina wants to tell the public what really happened. According to her, the story that was published by the "redheaded man" was not in anyway the true story. Here we find out more about why Dracula is obsessed with Mina and how that obsession has affected her whole life. The author explores a whole new side of Mina. I thought Mina was a much more interesting character in this book than in the original.

I also enjoyed the glimpse into the world of psychiatry in the late 1800s. Women who went against the Victorian views and wanted to explore their very natural and healthy sexual appetites were subjected to unspeakable torture. They were thought to be hysterical or crazy and needed to be cured. This part of the book had me cringing at times!

While I really enjoyed the book, I did think that it dragged a bit in a few places in the beginning. I am glad I stuck it out. I definitely recommend Dracula in Love. I think that fans of Gothic vampire tales with enjoy it was well.

Now for the Giveaway!!!! I have 5, yes, that is 5 paperback copies of this book to giveaway in honor of Ms. Essex's blog tour. Unfortunately, I can only open it to US readers. All you have to do is leave a comment with a valid email address to enter. If you tweet it or post it on Facebook, just leave me another comment with the link for an extra opportunity. This will end on August 7, 2011. Good Luck!!!!!

--Kari

About the author:
Karen is an award-winning novelist, journalist and screen writer. Her novels include the internationally best-selling Leonardo's Swans, Stealing Athena, and two novels on the queen of Egypt, Kleopatra and Pharoah.

Essex was born and raised in New Orleans. She was graduated from Tulane University, attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University, and received an MFA in Writing from Goddard College in Vermont. She’s appeared on The Today Show and A Word on Words hosted by John Seigenthaler, as well as other PBS and NPR programs. She’s lectured at the Chicago Museum of Art, and extensively at universities. Her books are taught in many college courses from creative writing to history to women’s studies.

Leonardo’s Swans, a runaway bestseller in Italy, won the prestigious 2007 Premio Roma for foreign fiction. Essex’s novels are published in twenty-seven languages. She lives in London.

Her blog: http://www.karenessex.com/bterlog/


* Note: I read a complimentary copy of Dracula in Love supplied courtesy of the author as part of her blog tour. I was not compensated in any way for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

54 comments:

donnas said...

Thanks for the chance!

Ive been wanting to read this one.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

donnas said...

tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/97913729517232128

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Vivien said...

Count me in :)

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Diana said...

uuu.... this one sounds good! Please count me in :D

Diana
lovelygetaway@gmail.com

Bwyatt said...

I saw this book in B&N the other day. It sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway.
britneywyatt[at]gmail[dot]com

Bwyatt said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/BritneyWyatt/status/98017507054600192
britneywyatt[at]gmail[dot]com

Leslie Carroll said...

Oh, yes! Please count me in. I adored LEONARDO'S SWANS and have always been a fan of Dracula tropes, having played Mina in "The Passion of Dracula" some years ago.

Thanks for the giveaway!
lesliecarroll13@aol.com

Shelbie, Amanda and Jenni said...

Count me in!

Amanda
wolfbauer3(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

This books sounds so full of scintillating intrigue! I cannot wait to read it!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Unknown said...

This is great lisapeters at yahoo dot com thanks Lisa

BBC said...

Count me in!

bigblackcat97(at)gmail(dot)com

jfort357 said...

Thanks for the chance to win!!! This book sounds intriguing!!! :-)

jfort357(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

this is awesome!

reflectionsofabookaholic[at]gmail[dot]com

Ricki said...

Generous contest. Thanks!
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

Devon Ashley said...

sounds good! :)
devonashleywrites at yahoo dot com

Ash said...

I'd love to read this book. :]

ashley.mckinsey(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Count me in!! Please stop my blog as well and check out my giveaway!!!
closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com
viajeradelmar@aol.com

AmyS. said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I hope I win this book.

truebloodfan(at)rock(dot)com

Martha Lawson said...

This one sounds so great! I'd love to be entered to win.

old follower on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Lisa Faye Coombs, Author/Novelista said...

How Fun!! And how cool of the author and publisher to offer a chance to win a copy of this breakout novel. I can't wait to read Karen's twist on the Dracula story!

frunchezzcuh said...

I'd love to win this one!

hellgirl_fran(at)yahoo(dot)com

tweeted!

http://twitter.com/#!/frunchezzcuh/status/98290180431159296

Lala77 said...

I am also a big Dracula fan and would love to read this.
bookloon at gmail dot com

Nicole Langan said...

I just finished reading "Dracula" and I would love to win this!

Nicole
info@tribute-books.com

Alicia said...

I'd love to read this book! I'm a GFC follower, and my e-mail address is alicia.ebaugh at gmail dot com

Anne said...

I've been a fan of all things Dracula since I was 7. I'd love to read this.

acm05atjuno.com

Audrey said...

Thanks for the great giveaway! I'm a GFC follower as audreyclair.
twigerina@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great story. I'd love to win one!

ruby95660@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/Ruby95660/status/98582957920501760

ruby95660@yahoo.com

Katie said...

thanks for the giveaway!
GFC follower: Katie

katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

The Happy Booker said...

I'm determined to get my hand on a copy of this book! It sounds amazing!

Donna @ The Happy Booker
ahappybooker at gmail dot com

Nay Nay said...

Thanks for the chance to win. Count me in please.
reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger said...

http://twitter.com/#!/jdonnelly14/status/98967193672351746

First the tweet so I don't forget

jennlovesed14 at gmail

Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger said...

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now.

GFC following as Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger

jennlovesed14 at gmail

brendajean said...

Wow, what a gorgeous cover! Thanks for the chance:)
bchild5 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win.


lacrossex3(at)gmail(dot)com

Amanda Welling said...

I would LOVE to win this!

GFC: Amanda Welling

Email: hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy@gmail.com

anme said...

Thank you for the giveaway!
I love stories that examine how another character experienced those events.
melorabrock {at} gmail {dot} com

usagi, said...

Ooh, I've been wanting to read this one!

usagiko at gmail dot com

Michele said...

Thanks for the chance to win

GFC Michele Luker

jmluker at winco dot net

Krystal Larson said...

I would love to win, thank you so much! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom GFC Krystal Larson

Juana said...

Please count me in! I have this book in my book wish list.

GFC follower = Juana Esparza

jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

Juana said...

Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/#!/jmesparza821/status/99625753150361601

jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

DeeDeeBamaGirl said...

Thank you for the chance to win! Follow by GFC (deedeebamagirl)
deedeebamagirl at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Awesome book!

unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com

Linda Kish said...

Sounds great. Count me in, please.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Tanya1224 said...

Count me in please. I would love a chance to win this. Thanks =)
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tanya1224 said...

I tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/Tanya1224/status/100230500425273345 to spread the word
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I just love the "what if?" presented here.



(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/100353197524267009

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=129872017107800&id=1184379567
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Tweeted:https://twitter.com/#!/ArtsyBookishGal/status/100376219828240384

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Shared on FB: https://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=257238024304499&id=543401866

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

Casey Plew said...

thanks!
caseyplew@yahoo.com